Plans for a new community hub in Mountain Ash have been given the go ahead despite opposition from day centre users and concerns over a lack of scrutiny of the proposals.

A special meeting of the overview and scrutiny committee on Monday, April 30 voted not to refer the matter back to cabinet for further consideration meaning the hub will be brought to Mountain Ash Day Centre.

Councillors Pauline Jarman, Julie Williams (both Plaid Cymru) and Lyndon Walker, Independent, had called the matter in because of concerns over a lack of scrutiny during the process.

Cabinet agreed the proposal at its April meeting. The plans would see library services, a community café, a community space and employment support services brought to the day centre against objections from service users who said it would remove an important service for the elderly.

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It is part of council plans to bring 8-10 hubs to the county borough over a three year period in a bid to safeguard community services by bringing them under one roof with another hub planned for Ferndale.

Councillor Jarman said: "The health and well-being scrutiny committee requested cabinet deferred the decision to properly scrutinise it. This is what their job is. To hold council to account. Cabinet ignored it as if it didn't matter."

She added: "Scrutiny must not take a back seat."

Cllr Walker said the request from the health and well being committee for deferral appears to have been "dismissed out of hand."

"There are alternatives. We should have all the facts. I don't know why there's a rush. I fully support community hubs but we've got time. We've got to do it right.

"We should take a good look at it. We've got to give people all the information.

Councillor Williams said: "I wanted to find out more before I made a decision. She added that she wanted to allow it to be subject to scrutiny and was in no way trying to stop it.

"I want it to go ahead. I work for NHS Wales and service reviews often fail because the views of service users aren't taken into consideration."

Paul Mee, the council's director of public health, protection and community services said this was not something the council had hastily put together but something that they had been working on for some months.

He said that members had already had "significant involvement" and that no alternatives or changes have been put forward.

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Cabinet member for health and well being, Councillor Rhys Lewis, Labour, said: "It is pleasing to hear from members the support for the wider community hub programme.

"We have a responsibility to safeguard our services. They will be shaped by local circumstances. I am content that it was an appropriate consultation. I am content in terms of the process we followed

"We have had to make some difficult decisions due to austerity and the pressures on local government. This will assist us in future proofing."

Councillor Jack Harries, Labour, highlighted the success he's seen in his ward and that hubs would be the centre point of community.

He added that people will feel supported throughout their life and the hubs would bring increased footfall.

Councillor Jarman asked why the town hall was dismissed and was told that it was due to size, location and accessibility.

She also expressed her disappointment about not being consulted as a local member.

She said: "There is little appetite to refer this back to cabinet. I have supported the concept of hubs as a way forward. Debate is healthy.

"The outcome has proven to not be in the interest of a number of people. It has been like pulling teeth to be honest with you. It isn't the case that hubs can only be effectively delivered under one roof.

"I've got serious misgivings."

Councillor Richard Yeo said that at the health and well being scrutiny committee, the motion "killed" any discussion.

"I regret the politicking that's gone on. The process has been hijacked."

One of the day centre users said after the meeting that she was "disgusted" with the decision.

She said that people come from outside the town to use the day centre including from Abercynon and Aberamman and that it is a "lifeline" for some.

She said: "They are overriding everything the people want."

She highlighted the various events and groups that are based at the day centre including bingo, concerts, knitting club and that there are already advice services on offer.

One of the main concerns of users is disability access and they claim it will leave them having to climb 18 steps which could be difficult for some.

Another user said that they are not against the idea of community hubs but that they want the council to tell them how it's going to work.

Four members voted not to refer it back to cabinet and three voted in favour of doing so.